"Instead of bolstering NHTSA’s ability to receive crucial safety data from companies—which the agency needs to determine which systems might place consumers at risk and to identify defects before people get hurt—the guidance minimizes the information companies are asked to give the agency. It also tries to sideline state and local authorities from playing a role in highway safety that is entirely appropriate."

Also note that the privacy and ethical considerations for autonomous car development were stripped out for NHTSA's 2.0 version, and reduced to a footnote saying "NHTSA acknowledges that Privacy and Ethical Considerations are also important elements for entities to deliberate."
So, roughly the same standard Equifax is held to.

This is the final guidance, not a proposal. If you drive on public roads, or are considering a new vehicle purchase, it affects you.
There's no reason it has to be a political discussion. Just stay away from commenting on any perceived political motivation for this outcome, and focus on the actual outcome.